Rapid analysis of pharmaceutical drugs using LIBS coupled with multivariate analysis

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Type 2 diabetes is a prevalent metabolic disorder requiring effective pharmaceutical treatments.
• Voglibose is a key drug used in managing Type 2 diabetes.
• Accurate and rapid quality control of pharmaceutical formulations is crucial for patient safety and drug efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the application of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for the quantitative analysis of voglibose drug tablets.
• To develop and validate a statistical calibration model for determining drug composition.
• To assess the feasibility of LIBS for online quality control in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of Type 2 diabetes drug tablets (0.2 and 0.3 mg voglibose) using LIBS.
• Application of statistical methods, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Square Regression Analysis (PLSR).
• Development of a ratio-based calibration model using relative spectral intensity ratios (H/C, H/N, O/N) within PLSR.

Main Results:

• Successful classification and calibration models were developed for voglibose drug samples using LIBS spectral data.
• The ratio-based PLSR model accurately predicted the relative elemental concentrations in unknown samples.
• Experiments conducted in both air and argon atmospheres yielded comparable and statistically significant results.

Conclusions:

• LIBS provides a rapid and statistically significant spectroscopic method for the analysis of voglibose drug tablets.
• The developed PLSR model demonstrates high potential for online quality control and measurement in pharmaceutical applications.
• This technique offers a valuable tool for ensuring the quality and consistency of pharmaceutical products.